“Issues” Plate Debate
Here’s why states should get out of the business of approving clearly political messaging for license plates. You can’t just approve one side of the debate, as the Virginia legislature will learn if it dares not to approve a “pro-choice” plate having already approved and sold thousands of “pro-life” plates. It’s not about abortion, but about the state’s responsibility to be content-neutral in the speech it approves. (That the state even votes on this seems a colossal waste of time, too; most states handle these issues administratively, where sensible choices can be made without the kind of public hissy-fit this seems guaranteed to cause.)
Expect years of litigation if the state turns this request down. Would that be a good use of taxpayer’s money?
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